Rio Rancho, NM vs League City, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

League City, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.5% lower than Rio Rancho, NM.

Rio Rancho, NM · modeled 2BR rent
$1,750 / month
League City, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$1,910 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Rio Rancho, NM and League City, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $109/month in League City, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,687 in League City, TX

Regional cost estimates: Rio Rancho, NM uses Albuquerque, NM. League City, TX uses Houston, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.5%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$109
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.3K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Rio Rancho, NM

Population:111K
Cost Index:
91.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$342K

League City, TX

Population:116K
Cost Index:
90.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$374K

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Rio Rancho, NM

The Land of Enchantment

111K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New Mexico, this city has a population of 111K residents.

League City, TX

The Lone Star State

116K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 116K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rio Rancho, NM vs League City, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 7.1%
Rio Rancho, NM
$2,154
League City, TX
$2,001
Difference
$154
less
Transportation
↑ 4.9%
Rio Rancho, NM
$1,401
League City, TX
$1,471
Difference
$69.30
more
Groceries
↓ 6.5%
Rio Rancho, NM
$1,022
League City, TX
$956
Difference
$66.13
less
All Utilities
↑ 8.2%
Rio Rancho, NM
$536
League City, TX
$580
Difference
$43.90
more
Other
↓ 0.6%
Rio Rancho, NM
$1,805
League City, TX
$1,794
Difference
$11.19
less
Healthcare
↑ 1.5%
Rio Rancho, NM
$581
League City, TX
$590
Difference
$8.57
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,210
To$1,550
↑ $340
1 Bed
From$1,420
To$1,610
↑ $190
2 Bed
From$1,750
To$1,910
↑ $160
3 Bed
From$2,430
To$2,570
↑ $140
Rio Rancho, NMZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,420–$1,420/mo

League City, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,610–$1,610/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Rio Rancho, NM
$7,391
Monthly in League City, TX
$109
Difference

Home Values

Rio Rancho
League City
$342K
Median Value
$374K
↑ +0.5%
YoY Change
↓ -1.6%
↑ +44%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.4%

Homes in League City are 9% more expensive than Rio Rancho

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$589
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Rio Rancho, NM

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New Mexico State Tax
Effective: 4.7%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,826/month
$105.9K

League City, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Rio Rancho, NM Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.6%
Property Tax:0.8%

League City, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Rio Rancho
League City
61 Moderate
Air Quality
61 Moderate
27.3%
Good Air Days
13.7%
94 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
63 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
63 days
Heat Days >95°F
64 days

Before moving from Rio Rancho, NM to League City, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in League City, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Rio Rancho, NM. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Rio Rancho to League City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to League City, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Rio Rancho, NM vs League City, TX

How do the cost estimates for Rio Rancho, NM and League City, TX compare?

League City, TX has a modeled overall cost index 1.5% lower than Rio Rancho, NM. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Rio Rancho, NM, the model estimates $148,687 in League City, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Rio Rancho, NM and League City, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,750/month in Rio Rancho, NM and $1,910/month in League City, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between New Mexico and Texas on TaxTakeHome.com

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